PDQ in the Town Center area is in review for conversion into Saucy, a concept backed by KFC Corp. that sells chicken tenders with 11 sauces.

KFC.com said Dec. 18, 2024, that the “bold  new concept” celebrates “the star of every tenders meal: Sauce.”

The city is reviewing a permit application for an estimated $375,000 project to turn the PDQ, a chicken tenders and sandwich concept, into Saucy. 

The 3,312-square-foot restaurant at 4816 Gate Parkway will seat 66 customers, with 42 inside and 24 on the patio.

KFC’s Saucy concept is replacing PDQ in the Town Center area at 4816 Gate Parkway.

Tampa-based PDQ says on its website that it was founded in 2011 and opened across Florida, New Jersey, New York and North Carolina. The eatpdq.com site posted Aug. 31 that some of its PDQ locations “will soon be closing and reopening under the YUM! family of brands.”

It listed three Central Florida locations.

“This isn’t a goodbye to every location, but it is a heartfelt thank you for the moments we’ve shared together. From family dinners to shakes with friends, your support has meant the world to us. You’ve been part of something truly special, and for that we are so grateful.”

The eatpdq.com site shows 53 locations in Florida, New Jersey and North Carolina, including those in Jacksonville and Orlando expected to be converted,

In Northeast Florida, PDQ has stores in Bartram Park, at Beach and Hodges boulevards, in Julington Creek and at Town Center.

KFC’s Saucy at 502 S. Alafaya Trail in Orlando. It is about 12 miles west of Downtown Orlando.

KFC Saucy

Saucy by KFC is operated by KFC Corp., a subsidiary of Yum! Brands Inc. based in Louisville, Kentucky.

Yum! bought some PDQ locations. An associate at the Town Center location said Sept. 15 that the PDQ remained open but expected the four Northeast Florida locations to be closed by year-end. 

The Gate Parkway PDQ was built in 2017. The 1.65-acre site was sold in 2020 to a Boynton Beach limited liability company.

Yum! Brands include KFC, Pizza Hut, Taco Bell and Habit Burger.

The kfc.com site said the Dec. 23, 2024, debut of Saucy in Orlando introduced “a flavor-forward dining destination offering chicken tender lovers the chance to dip, dunk and customize their meal with 11 sauces,” a nod to the 11 herbs and spices in KFC’s Original Recipe.

“Always made hot, fresh and crispy, Saucy’s tenders pair perfectly with sweet, spicy, savory and smoky global flavors, all complemented by an 11-beverage lineup that includes a variety of teas, freezes and refreshers.”

“With Saucy, we’ve taken KFC’s famous Original Recipe and amplified it with a brand-new concept that lets consumers play with flavor,” KFC Chief New Concept Officer Christopher Poirier said in a news release.

The interior of KFC’s Saucy at 502 S. Alafaya Trail in Orlando.

KFC Saucy

Sauces include five flavors of ranch along with sweet and spicy, sweet and saucy barbecue, spicy mango chutney, creole honey mustard, sweet teriyaki and “Saucy’s Sauce.”

The Yum! site said in August 2025 that Saucy “may seem like a bold choice for a brand whose product is its name – Kentucky Fried Chicken – but the decision was made based on over a decade’s worth of research, a handful of corporate rebels and an epic collective brainstorming session. The new concept is off to a strong start as Yum! Brands plans to expand the test to additional locations this year.”

The kfc.com site says Saucy will feature a modern look and feel “plus a tech-forward customer experience.”

“Drive-thru lanes allow traditional traffic flow, while inside, diners are invited to order their personalized meal at efficient kiosks and welcomed to stay awhile in an environment meant to hang out. Saucy will debut programming such as live entertainment, making it the perfect community epicenter.”

The technology will enable efficient back-of-the-house operations to reduce wait time.

The site says customers can order sauces individually or in a flight of four with their choice of tenders that are hand-breaded and fried in small batches.

Also available are an EZ Crispy Sandwich, Spicy Queso Crunch Sandwich or combos that include a three-piece tenders combo with a toasted roll, fries, medium drink and choice of sauce for $7.99.

Desserts include chocolate mousse cake or key lime cake.

Beverages include refreshers, lemonades, freezes and teas.

The Orlando Sentinel newspaper posted Sept, 4 at OrlandoSentinel.com that three Central Florida PDQ Chicken restaurants would close Sept. 14 to be replaced by Saucy restaurants, an offshoot of Kentucky Fried Chicken.

It said Yum! Brands confirmed that it will open three Saucy locations where PDQs now operate in Hunter’s Creek, Winter Park and near the Waterford Lakes community. 

The company opened its first Saucy location in December in the Waterford neighborhood in east Orange County.

PDQ said on its website that the last day of operations for those three restaurants would be Sept. 14. Its menu includes chicken tenders, chicken sandwiches and chicken salads.